JOHANNESBURG - As the country marks Human Rights Day, survivors of the Sharpeville Massacre still live with the trauma.
The apartheid government gunned down 69 peaceful protesters opposing the pass laws.
The day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for the freedom many of us enjoy today.
Survivor Abraham Mofokeng said he still has a bullet lodged in his spine.
"In 1960 we were all called by the leaders of PAC, organised by Robert Smangaliso Sobukwe and the supporters, that all people should march to the police stations and hand ourselves for arrest and we must give them their passes, because the passes had so many laws.
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“You couldn't stay where you like, you couldn't move anywhere where you like, you were just put in one place. It's where you stay, you belong there. That was the main cause. And did you get shot? Were you injured on that day? I was injured on that day. I was shot first, bullet came to my right foot, the second one hit me in the spine. It's still remaining in the spine. It's still in the spine,” he said.
The families of victims and survivors of the Sharpeville Massacre want justice and restitution.
They say some of their loved ones went missing leaving them to carry on with their lives without closure.
"This day is important to me especially as it's raining because it was also raining on the day when people were shot. The rain shows that the commemoration was a success. My brother and I are survivors of the Sharpeville Massacre. Another brother of mine who was a leader was taken by police in June 1960 when he returned from prison and we haven't seen him since then,” said Selloane Phethane.